Five Anarchists Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Blow Up a Cleveland-Area Bridge, Had Similar Attacks Planned in Chicago

The FBI has arrested five individuals described as “anarchists” after they allegedly conspired to blow up a Cleveland-area bridge, and wage similar attacks in Chicago in coordination with the upcoming NATO summit.

The group– at least three members of which are self-declared anarchists, according to authorities– decided to bomb the Route 82 Brecksville-Northfield High Level Bridge with C-4 as their first attack, after considering a number of other plots.

“After the Ohio attacks,” ABC writes, “the men would focus on waging similar assaults in Chicago during the upcoming NATO summit, according to FBI Special Agent Ryan Taylor…the five anarchists wanted body armor, helmets and gas masks to wear in Chicago, which was ‘the main place they were worried about having the protective gear because there is no telling what they might have to use there.’” [Emphasis added]

Suspect Douglas Wright is quoted by the FBI as predicting that a “s–t load” of anarchists would go to Chicago after leaving the Cleveland area “a pile of rubble and ashes,“ as anarchists in every major city throughout the country will ultimately be ”rioting and destroying each city.” [Emphasis added]

A written statement on the case elaborates that Douglas L. Wright, Brandon L. Baxter, and Anthony Hayne were arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force on charges of conspiracy and attempted use of explosive materials to damage physical property affecting interstate commerce. Charges against Connor C. Stevens, and Joshua S. Stafford are pending.

While the violent plot may not be officially related to Occupy Wall Street’s “May Day” plans, a quick search of the suspects’ Facebook pages shows that at least two of the individuals describe themselves as having worked at “Occupy Cleveland.”

Crime Report: Five Anarchists Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Blow Up a Cleveland-Area Bridge, Had Similar Attacks Planned in Chicago

The FBI has arrested five individuals described as “anarchists” after they allegedly conspired to blow up a Cleveland-area bridge, and wage similar attacks in Chicago in coordination with the upcoming NATO summit.

The group– at least three members of which are self-declared anarchists, according to authorities– decided to bomb the Route 82 Brecksville-Northfield High Level Bridge with C-4 as their first attack, after considering a number of other plots.
Five Anarchists Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Blow Up a Cleveland Area Bridge

(Photo: FBI)

“After the Ohio attacks,” ABC writes, “the men would focus on waging similar assaults in Chicago during the upcoming NATO summit, according to FBI Special Agent Ryan Taylor…the five anarchists wanted body armor, helmets and gas masks to wear in Chicago, which was ‘the main place they were worried about having the protective gear because there is no telling what they might have to use there.’” [Emphasis added]

Suspect Douglas Wright is quoted by the FBI as predicting that a “s–t load” of anarchists would go to Chicago after leaving the Cleveland area “a pile of rubble and ashes,“ as anarchists in every major city throughout the country will ultimately be ”rioting and destroying each city.” [Emphasis added]

A written statement on the case elaborates that Douglas L. Wright, Brandon L. Baxter, and Anthony Hayne were arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force on charges of conspiracy and attempted use of explosive materials to damage physical property affecting interstate commerce. Charges against Connor C. Stevens, and Joshua S. Stafford are pending.

While the violent plot may not be officially related to Occupy Wall Street’s “May Day” plans, a quick search of the suspects’ Facebook pages shows that at least two of the individuals describe themselves as having worked at “Occupy Cleveland.”

Moreover, their names have shown up in various news reports in connection to the Occupy movement. Anthony Hayne is pictured in a Lakewood Patch article holding a sign saying, “We Are Still Here #Occupy Cleveland,” and Brandon Baxter makes his opinion known in this Cleveland.com report (and here’s a picture of him from “Captured Cleveland,” a site that claims to capture Cleveland through photographs).